TOWSON CONCLUDES HOMESTAND AGAINST TEMPLE ON THURSDAYTigers take on Owls at 7:30 p.m. on the NBC Sports Network

TOWSON, Md. – The Towson men’s basketball team will look to start the season 3-0 for the first time since 1972 as the Tigers host Temple at SECU Arena on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The game can be seen live nationally on the NBC Sports Network with Mike Corey and Ron Thompson on the call.

Fans can also listen to the game on the Towson Sports Network (TSN) with Spiro Morekas and Vince Angotti calling the action.

Towson (2-0) has won its first two games to start a season for the first time since 2006. With a 72-45 victory over Navy last Friday and a 95-75 win against Morgan State on Tuesday, the Tigers have defeated both of their first two opponents by at least 20 points for the first time since 1972.

Towson’s combined 167 points scored through two games are the most to begin a year since the 1991-92 season, when the Tigers scored a total of 171 points against Colorado and North Carolina.

Senior Rafriel Guthrie leads the Tigers in scoring, averaging 18 points per game off the bench. Preseason Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year Jerrelle Benimon is averaging 13.5 points and 15.5 rebounds per game. The forward also leads Towson with 10 assists, including a career-high six dimes against Morgan State.

Temple has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three years. The Owls reached the third round last year before falling to the East Region’s top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers.

The Owls (1-1) opened their 2013-14 campaign with a 78-73 win at Penn before falling to Kent State, 81-77, in their home opener on Monday. Junior guard Will Cummings paces Temple with 17.5 points per game, while junior forward Anthony Lee averages a double-double with 14 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.

Temple has won all three meetings between the squads, including a 72-61 victory at the Liacouras Center last season. Benimon tallied 30 points on 14-for-22 shooting and grabbed 18 rebounds against the Owls in the loss. Temple has won the only meeting between the teams at Towson, a 75-70 victory over the Tigers in 2006.